French President Emmanuel Macron has joined forces with the far-left parties in France to counter the conservative National Rally led by Marine Le Pen in the ongoing snap legislative election. The National Rally gained significant support in the first round of voting, securing 33.2% of the votes, putting them on track to potentially secure a majority in the National Assembly.
To prevent this outcome, Macron and his Ensemble coalition have united with the New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, formed by the far-left parties, to block Le Pen’s party from gaining control. Calls have been made for candidates who placed third in the first round to withdraw from the race to consolidate support against the National Rally.
Despite previous reservations against collaborating with the far-left, Macron has taken this strategic step to prevent the National Rally from dominating the Assembly. The decision has faced criticism from some members of his government, who question his judgment and approach to the elections.
Macron’s move to ally with the far-left indicates the high stakes involved in the election, with both sides vying for control of the parliament. The results of the second round will determine the future political landscape in France, with Macron’s presidency hanging in the balance.